RESULTS:

Weekly walking distance, longest walk, and walking intensity were inversely related to the prevalence of antidiabetic (males: P < 0.001, females: P < 0.0001), antihypertensive (males: P < 0.01, females: P < 0.0001), and LDL cholesterol-lowering medications (males: P < 0.01, females: P < 0.0001). Each medication remained significantly related to both walking intensity and longest weekly walk when adjusted for total weekly distance. Compared with men and women who walked at a speed of < 1.2 m.s, those who walked > 2.1 m.s had 48% and 52% lower odds for antihypertensive, 68% and 59% lower odds for antidiabetic, and 53% and 40% lower odds for LDL cholesterol-lowering medications, respectively, when adjusted for age, smoking, and diet. The longest usual weekly walk was a better discriminator of medication status than the total cumulative distance per week, particularly in men.

CONCLUSION:

These results are consistent with the hypothesis that antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and LDL cholesterol-lowering medication use may be reduced substantially by walking more intensely and farther each week, and by including longer walks.

Odds ratios for medication use by usual walk speed relative to < 1.2 m/s, adjusted for age, smoking, and intakes of meat, fish, fruits, and kilometers per week and BMI where indicated. Brackets designate 95% confidence intervals. Significance levels for the odds relative to < 1.2 m/s are coded: * P < 0.05, † P < 0.01, ‡ P < 0.001, and § P < 0.0001. Significance levels relative to all men of women who walked greater distances are presented above the bars and to the left of the arrows.